CFDs are a leveraged product and can result in losses that exceed deposits. Trading CFDs may not be suitable for everyone, so please ensure you fully understand the risks and take care to manage your exposure.

Established in 1974

Over 185,000 clients worldwide

15,000 markets worldwide

Asia Week Ahead: Trump meetings and GDPs

Asian equity markets drew little inspiration from the US in the past week, except for the boost at the end of the week.

IG Analyst

2017-02-10T09:40:00+0000

CFDs are a leveraged product and can result in losses that exceed deposits. Trading CFDs may not be suitable for everyone, so please ensure you fully understand the risks and take care to manage your exposure.

Source: Bloomberg

While the US remains in this Trump-on, Trump-off trading climate, Asian indices had seen general buying interest picking up against the backdrop of stabilising macroeconomic conditions. Key Asian indices, the Nikkei 225, HSI and STI rallied strongly since the start of the week with week-to-date gains exceeding their US counterparts.

Ahead of the meeting between President Donald Trump and Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe today, the switch had also flicked back to a Trump-on environment. In a meeting with US airline CEOs on Thursday, President Donald Trump highlighted that something 'phenomenal' with regards to tax could be announced over the next two to three weeks. This have had and may continue to elevate sentiment in the near term.

Correspondingly, havens including gold saw prices retreating into the end of the week, falling to sub-$1230 levels on Friday. Despite the brief tune-up of optimism, the week ahead nevertheless holds key events and indicators that could shape trades.

US leads

Besides the political uncertainty surrounding Europe, President Donald Trump’s actions have proven to draw jitters in past weeks. The week ahead finds meetings between President Donald Trump and leaders of Israel and Canada lined up. Trade between the world’s largest economy and the rest of the world have been a key concern for global markets since the US elections in light of President Donald Trump’s protectionist stance.

The upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau could potentially open up discussions on developments in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), an item that the US president had put up for renegotiation. A dive into a protectionist outcome could once again kick-up de-globalization worries.

Notably Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen will also be testifying before Congress between Tuesday and Wednesday and delivering the semi-annual Monetary Policy Report. Admittedly, the Fed had kept the rhetoric largely unchanged since the December Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting and economic projections update.

This would nevertheless be Yellen’s first appearance since January’s jobs report and the market would keep a close watch on updates here for US dollar influences and more.

Asian indicators

A series of GDP updates can be anticipated from Asia in the week ahead. The key focus for Asian markets would likely be Japan’s Q4 preliminary growth rate to be released on Monday. The market consensus for Q4 GDP currently sits at 1.1% year-on-year (YoY) according to Bloomberg, which represents a slowdown from the previous quarter. Malaysia will also be updating the market on their Q4 GDP on Thursday while Singapore and Taiwan are expected to release their final growth figures from Wednesday onwards.

For the local market, Singapore’s January non-oil domestic exports (NODX) will be released on Friday and the market is expecting some moderation after two months of exceptional growth. With the latest better-than-expected Chinese trade data, one would not be surprised to see next week’s NODX figure falter less than expected. Notably, Singapore’s three local banks will be reporting on earnings in the coming week. Taking the lion’s share on the local bourse, the update is likely to exert a significant influence on the STI.

Share this article

This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients.

CFDs are a leveraged products. CFD trading may not be suitable for everyone and can result in losses that exceed your initial deposit, so please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved.

CFDs are a leveraged product and can result in losses that exceed deposits. Please ensure you fully understand the risks and take care to manage your exposure.

Trading CFDs may not be suitable for everyone, so please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved. IG does not issue advice, recommendations or opinion in relation to acquiring, holding or disposing of a CFD. IG is not a financial advisor and all services are provided on an execution only basis.

The information on this site is not directed at residents of the United States, Belgium or any particular country outside the UAE and is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person in any country or jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation.

CFDs are a leveraged product and can result in losses that exceed deposits. Trading CFDs may not be suitable for everyone, so please ensure you fully understand the risks and take care to manage your exposure.